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Speaker Johnson supports $14B for Israel, but says

America 'cannot be dropping money out of helicopters'
Rep Mike Johnson joins 'Hannity' for first TV interview since being picked to replace Kevin McCarthy
By Charles Creitz Fox News

Published October 27, 2023 7:00am EDT

House Speaker Mike Johnson sits for first interview since attaining gavel
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., joins 'Hannity' for a wide-ranging interview on his plans, domestic issues and unrest abroad.

Newly-minted House Speaker Mike Johnson told FOX News in his first television interview
since gaining the gavel that the U.S. stands firmly behind Israel, while back at home,
lawmakers and the Biden administration alike must find common ground and
acknowledge "God is not done" with America yet.

Johnson told "Hannity" the House is primed to proffer a $14.5 billion support bill for Israel,
slightly more than what the Louisiana Republican said Israel — via the White House — has
asked for.

However, a key difference between the House appropriation and other federal support is
that the money will come in exchange for "pay-for's" in the budget, rather than simply
printing the money.

Johnson said the figure is a "very specific number tied to very specific measures" and that
each dollar should be offset by a cut elsewhere.

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Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In terms of potential U.S. military involvement in Israel's fight for survival against Iran-
acked Hamas, Johnson said he is hopeful to avert a boots-on-the-ground situation, but
added that during a White House meeting Thursday he reminded President Biden's staff
that they have limited ability to directly respond without congressional approval.

The Founding Fathers, he said, envisioned a "multitude of wise counsel" in such matters,
which he noted is why Congress has the power to declare war, not the executive branch.

Johnson added that he has met previously with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, and agreed that while Americans talk of "existential threats" stateside, Israel
faces one or more daily.

"Their neighbors want to eliminate them," he said.

"America will back [Netanyahu] up — they tell us when we're in Israel the reason we're able
to sustain ourselves and survive is because everybody knows our big ally is America."

The perception America must continue to depict is that of the premonition that the U.S.
will defend freedom, in an effort to stave off true military conflict, Johnson went on, citing
former President Ronald Reagan's platform in that regard.

As for Republicans in his caucus who lean toward a more isolationist foreign policy,
Johnson said he understands their concern that America "cannot be dropping money out
of helicopters" with a $33.6 trillion debt, but also that we must show our regard for
"nations of free people around the world."

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"But, we have to take care of our own house first," he added.

In terms of such domestic issues, Johnson said intentional policy choices in the time
since former President Donald Trump left office have led to the current economic malaise,
and a potential housing bubble cited by host Sean Hannity.

"[During] the Trump administration, we had the greatest economy in the history of the
world," he said, adding it was "not by happenstance" — but through tax cuts, reining in
regulation and expansion of energy production.

"We can achieve that again, but you have to do almost exactly the opposite of what the
Biden administration is doing… we are trying to urge our Democratic colleagues to take a
look at the basic facts …"

Regarding the GOP's slim majority, Johnson made clear that each faction within the
caucus must understand they will not get everything legislatively they want, going on to
reference another Reagan idiom regarding the preference of 80 percent of what someone
wants versus "going over the cliff with the flag waving."

Inthat way, he also said the U.S. will still have better days ahead, saying that "God is not
done with America yet."

"Ithink right now we're in very desperate times — I think the hour is late and the crisis is
great," the Shreveport lawmaker said.

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He called for a "Ben Franklin moment" — in which Americans inside and outside of
government humble themselves to steel through the challenges ahead.

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Pennsylvania's Franklin notably said, "the longer
I live, the more convincing proof I see that God governs in the affairs of men [and] without
his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of
Babel."

When the Founders had issues, they sought "divine guidance," Johnson recounted, adding
the same was true during the Civil War, the Great Depression and the two World Wars.

"We have ‘In God We Trust’ right above the rostrum [in the Capitol]," he went on, adding that
the slogan is "not a quaint saying" but one that differentiates America from Communist,
Marxist and monarchical regimes.

For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion and channel coverage,

visit foxnews.com/media

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.

Charles covers media politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
,

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast
Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.

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